Backpacks are used for just about everything these days, from camping, to diaper bags, to briefcase-substitutes. And for every use, there is a myriad of options available. Here are some tips on how to find the best backpack for you, depending on what you will use it for. Is the backpack for your kid to carry his books to school? Are you a parent using it as a diaper bag? This answer will narrow your field considerably, and give you a list of features to look for.
For kids headed back to school, you’ll want to balance your desire for practicality with your kid’s desire to be cool. Kids have lots of homework these days, which means lots of books coming back and forth. To keep your kid’s back healthy, you want to make sure that you get a bag that distributes weight evenly across the back and shoulders. Padding in the straps and against the back can help, too. Rolling bags with long handles can help save the back, but if your child has to climb stairs at school, or roll the bag through the snow, it may make it more difficult to use and may require carrying, so don’t load it any heavier than you would if your child were carrying it on her back.
If you’re going to be using a backpack as a diaper bag, there are several features that will be important. First, it should have wide straps that stay in place. One of the advantages of a backpack diaper bag is that it leaves your hands free, which it won’t if you are constantly having to adjust and hitch up the straps. You may also want to look for insulated pockets for bottles, separate compartments or removable bags for wet or soiled clothes, and maybe a removable changing pad. Another important feature will be washability. Diaper bags get used a lot, and go a lot of messy places. Make sure you can throw your bag in the wash, or easily wipe it down.
If you’re using your backpack for long hikes and camping, you’re going to be looking at a much bigger bag, so in this case, you want to try to distribute the bulk of the weight to your hips. This is done by the frame, which can be internal or external. Internal frames usually make for a more flexible bag, but that flexibility may lose you some efficiency in weight distribution. Comfortably padded shoulder straps and back panel material that allows air to circulate to your back are good features, too.
